Higher Mileage Subaru 2.5 Turbo

[jhynesrockmtn]

Hi, in my quest for a relatively cheap AWD daily driver, of course I made the mistake of driving the gen 3 Subie Outback 2.5 NA and an XT turbo. The XT is a totally different feeling car and of course now I'm looking at the Turbo version.

Am I crazy to look at a 2005 XT with a lot of new bits that has 180k in mileage? The list of new to newer parts is long and comes with receipts. Includes recent clutch, new brakes including rotors, newer turbo, radiator, up to date timing belt/water pump, new tires and exceptional cosmetics. Can probably pick it up for $5-$6K which is what folks around here are wanting for NA cars with 130k in miles and pretty used up.

Did I mention it has 3 pedals......

Ugh, I hate liking cars sometimes.

[Norm K]

I just sold an '05 XT five speed in the same color as depicted above. Cloth interior in very good condition, body and paint also very good, 132K miles. Upgraded clutch, timing belt, water pump etc. at 100K. Subaru Performance cold air, front and rear strut bars, tires at 75%. Overall a much better example than is typically found. The first guy to see it bought it at $5,800. Probably could've gotten a few hundred more, but cash in the first 4 hours of being for sale was good enough for me. As far as comparing our markets: although I suspect Subies are strong in Spokane I'd be surprised if it's any better the Subaru market is in Golden, Colorado. If the car you're looking at has maintenance records and you can pick it up for five grand (or close to it) you'll have done fine ... with the obvious caveat that it's a used car that could give you anywhere between twenty-five and twenty-five-thousand miles of trouble free use.

_

[cabmandone]

Do a search for Subaru Legacy XT turbo problems. If you want snappy but problematic, go with the turbo. If you want reliable get a 2.5 NA with good service records.

[RANDY P]

Take a close close look at it. Probably drinks oil like a Mofo. You're right at typical end of life for those things.

On the plus side, it's relatively cheap for a new long block after it's all said and done. You really are taking a crapshoot.

rjp

[SCadaddle]

Other than crawling under the front of the car and looking up for leaking/weeping oil and or coolant from the head gaskets, about the easiest thing to look for in a used Subaru is to check the top of the inside of the oil filler cap for major crud and pop the top off of the coolant recovery bottle and look for dark grunge and definitely stick your nose over the open bottle sniffing for fuel/oil hydrocarbon smells.

As for the receipts of work previously done, with regard to the timing belt service---that's a 105k mile OR 105 month which ever comes first interval. IF they only replaced the timing belt and the water pump but did NOT replace all of the timing belt idlers and the tensioner, then at 180k miles you are on VERY borrowed time. The 2005 models across the board of the Legacy line were notorious for having the rear wheel bearings fail, and without a doubt the rear bushing on the front lower control arms at the chassis connection are torn and need to be replaced. The front sway bar links are probably toast as well.

Oil change intervals on the turbo cars are 1/2 of the normally aspirated Subaru engines of the time being 7,500 miles. So if you are up to changing the oil every 3,750 miles as to not coke up the screen in the line to lubricate the turbo (probably why the turbo was replaced) then have at it.

If it were me looking for one of these 3rd generation outbacks, I would look for a nicely maintained LL Bean or 3.0R model with the 6 cylinder engine (with timing chains and no belt service required) and the 5 speed automatic transmission. At least try to drive one of those before making a decision on the others.

[DanielDudley]

If you have the money to throw at a new engine, have at it. They can last a really long time if driven like a normal car, not so much of you drive like a hooligan.

My WRX was running really well when I sold it at 180+K. I took the guy out for a ride and ran it through the gears a number of times. If you are smooth, and don't beat on it, you will probably be fine. But you really need to plan as if you won't be.

[t6dpilot]

DO NOT buy a 2.5 Turbo. Like cabmando says, search Legacy GT Turbo. They have a horrible history of blowing the turbos and then toasting the engine. Do not ask me how I know. We had to essentially junk a 61k mile 2005 Legacy GT. After pouring a crap ton of $$$$ into it to diagnose and repair a failed turbo. Well actually two...

The root issue iirc is how the turbo is plumbed on the Legacy. Might be different on the Outback, but do your homework and then buy a NA engined car.

[RANDY P]

isn't the solution just to remove the oil screen on the turbo? Aren't later models and STI without a turbo screen?

Certainly, you can rig it so the turbo doesn't go kaput like the later cars?

[greglepore]

They also are known to spin rod bearings.

[vash]

i have a turbo 2.5 motor.

there is a banjo fitting with a screen the clogs that blows the turbo. (i think). i have that part, floating around in the glove compartment, still to be installed. our motor is great.

it did have one MAJOR hiccup. we got a valve tapping. i took it in, and everyone was walking around like they didnt want to give me the bad news. they suggested i take it to an indie shop to have them look. it was a valve gone bad. from the lady service person, her exact words. "a valve PUCK slipped". wtf is a valve puck? i gathered a shim slipped.

we had to have the heads taken off the car and rebuilt. when we got the car back it was like it woke up..we didnt realize we had no power. it was back to ZIPPY.

oh, the sparkplugs are a PAIN!!

[aschen]

Tough call, I do not think the EJ257s are 300k mile engines. My daily driver is a 130k mile 06 wrx which is a pretty similar car I think. It has been a good car for the decade I have owned it but it started to give me a few small problems in the last year. I had been chasing a miss fire for the last several weeks but it turns out I was sent the wrong spark plugs and I didnt check the package when installed them. I replaced all the coil packs and the in tank fuel filter befor I realized the problem.

I think an accord is a safer bet for a cheap DD driver for 6k, however if the car is well maintained you are probably fine. 6k actually sounds like a lot for the car, but they do have unusually high resale.

If you are a bit handy and have some tolerance for potential surprises, it would be a fun car.

Anyways, at 130k miles alot of the plastic hoses and engine connectors have gotten a bit hard and brittle as well. There is alot more heat than with the NA cars. Many times when I see very high mile WRXs for sale they are on engine 2.

[aschen]

Originally Posted by vash

oh, the sparkplugs are a PAIN!!

I can do 3 out of 4 of them in 15 min. The one closest to the driver takes me at least an hour of cursing. I think if I somehow had a 2.7" extension instead of a bunch of 3" ones it would be a lot easier.

[vash]

nice^^^!!

oh, buying super unleaded is getting old!!

and what year Outback had that impossible to change out headlamp bulb?

[NutmegCarrera]

The headlight thing happened in 2010 on the outback.
Not the end of the world - but kind of a pain.take off inner fender liner and have small hands.

[cabmandone]

Originally Posted by vash

nice^^^!!

oh, buying super unleaded is getting old!!

and what year Outback had that impossible to change out headlamp bulb?

The newer models... 2010 or 2012 whenever they went to a timing chain for a timing belt. I had to do one in my Dad's car. Six pack job at a minimum.

[jhynesrockmtn]

Okay, thanks. I'm off of that one. Too many issues and the owner quit answering questions. I've upped my budget a bit and am having a buddy look at an 08 with a fresh engine, clutch and up to date on everything with 123k on the chassis in Portland. Enough mods to address some of the reliability issues. I spent some time at an Indy Subie shop in town yesterday getting some feedback on the later gen III cars. There are a few upgrades that can prevent some of the issues and regular 3-4k oil changes with good quality synthetic are key. Those updates were done on this car when the engine was built. Life threw a few curveballs this year reminding me it is too short to drive a car you don't like very much every day.

[RANDY P]

In some ways, they are inexpensive and unique enough to eat the repair it works out in the end.

A really cherry XT is worth it.

rjp

[craigster59]

I test drove both the 2.5 XT and the 3.0 R. They both had similar pep, ended up getting the 3.0 due to no turbo issues and timing chain vs. belt.

[RANDY P]

Originally Posted by aschen

I can do 3 out of 4 of them in 15 min. The one closest to the driver takes me at least an hour of cursing. I think if I somehow had a 2.7" extension instead of a bunch of 3" ones it would be a lot easier.

I just looked underhood of my 2016 STI- that looks like a complete pain in the ass.

My old FA20 WRX I could see them, I never bothered to check this car. I only have 30K miles so it's gonna be years before I have to deal with it.

rjp

[RANDY P]

My brother's Forester melted it's headlight sockets.

replaced em with these and no problems 2 years out. Chop off the end that is supposed to be connected to old socket, crip it directly to wire. Old socket is trashed anyhow.

https://www.amazon.com/iJDMTOY-Ceramic-Harness-Sockets-Headlights/dp/B008DWPYO4/ref=sr_1_4?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1514564831&sr=1-4&keywords=ceramic+headlight+connector